#56 Inventory Your House

With all the media stories and images about plastic pollution around the world, it can seem overwhelming to figure out how your family can make a difference An informative first step is to look at what plastic items you have in your house. Begin by taking an inventory (or have your kids do a scavenger hunt), and make note of how many items are made of plastic. It will be too hard to count everything, so you can make a list of categories. For example: 1) your kitchen is sure to have plastic appliances, storage containers, vegetable bags, food wrapping, and trash cans; 2) your bathrooms may contain plastic toiletry containers (such as for shampoo and toothpaste), toothbrushes, disposable razors, and toilet seats; 3) your living room may have plastic electronics and light switches; and 4) your closet may contain plastic hangers, shelving, clothes (yes, some are made of plastic!), and toys. While plastic products have made life very convenient, our goal should be to reduce the amount of plastic we purchase and use, and find alternative products made of natural materials. Once we realize how prevalent plastic has become in our daily lives, we can start to make wiser choices to help save the environment, including the birds that are harmed by plastics in the landscape.